When, in 1942, a lonely U.S. soldier was tasked with repairing a directional sign-post just outside of Watson Lake, he decided to add an arrow pointing to his hometown in Illinois, kicking off a bit of a tradition. That post by the side of the Alaska Highway is now home to some 72,000 signs, and the town invites you to add your own if you swing by.

British Columbia’s World’s Biggest Hockey Stick

In 2008, Duncan, B.C.’s 63-metre hockey stick took the title of “world’s largest” from a Minnesota town’s measly 21-metre piece of lumber. The 33-tonne stick – installed by a community centre just off Vancouver Island’s major highway – was originally built for Expo 86 in Vancouver.

Alberta’s World’s Largest Dinosaur

This Tyrannosaurus Rex in fossil-laden Drumheller, Alberta is actually more than four times larger than a full-scale Rex would’ve been. It was specially built that way to accommodate ten-plus victims, er, visitors inside its gaping maw—the view out from behind all those teeth makes for a great photo op.

Saskatchewan’s Mac the Moose

It wouldn’t be Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan without a giant moose (jaw), now would it? If you’re passing through the province, you have to see Mac the Moose, the 10-metre, 10-tonne city mascot who’s been snapping photos with tourists since 1984.

Manitoba’s World’s Largest Coke Can

Coca-Cola ponied up the cash to paint Portage la Prairie’s old 85-foot water tower into one of their soft drink cans way back when, officially making the town home to the world’s largest Coca-Cola can. (Photo courtesy JakesJackofHearts blog.)

Ontario’s Big Nickel

Sudbury mines nickel like it’s nobody’s business, but they scoffed when a resident suggested they build a nine-metre replica of the Canadian coin. He pressed on anyway, raising funds by – what else? – selling collectible coins, and unveiled the completed monument in 1964.

Quebec’s Gibeau Orange Julep

You can’t miss this three-storey giant orange Gibeau Orange Julep restaurant just off the Décarie Expressway near Montreal. Nor would you want to: we hear they make a mighty fine orange julep (obviously) and host classic car and motorcycle shows on Wednesday nights through the summer months.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s l’Anse aux Meadows Viking Village

Talk about a roadside attraction with some history. The recreation Norse huts at Newfoundland’s l’Anse aux Meadows mark the site of “the oldest known European settlement in the New World,” where early Viking explorers first made landfall in North America.

New Brunswick’s World’s Largest Lobster

If you’re not one for creepy-crawly things, you may want to avoid stopping in Shediac, lobster capital of the world. If you don’t mind ’em, the 35-foot-long 90-tonne lobster statue on the edge of town is the world’s largest, and is very photogenic.

Nova Scotia’s Mastodon Ridge

After a mastodon skeleton was discovered near the small town of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, in the 1990s, the establishment of a Mastodon Ridge tourist attraction was basically a must. The site is home to a full-size mastodon statue, and also marks the halfway point between the North Pole and the Equator. (Photo courtesy Krissy Tower via flickr.)

Prince Edward Island’s Giant Potato

P.E.I. is known for its potatoes, which explains why the town of O’Leary there is home to both a potato museum and the Giant Potato, a 14-foot-tall fibreglass potato statue. (Photo courtesy FiberFarm.)